Here's a surprise...even though it may appear to be a shy little green plant, watercress is grouped in the cruciferous vegetable family (like cabbage and broccoli). It packs the power of Glucosinolates, compounds that cause the release of watercress’ primary anticancer compound, phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). PEITC has been found to protect against cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and colon, as well as lung cancer. It has also been found to exhibit great toxicity against cancer cells from leukemia, colon, and prostate cancer.

"Molecular oncologist Professor Graham Packham and colleagues at Britain’s University of Southampton studied a small group of breast cancer survivors, who underwent a period of fasting before eating 80g of watercress and then providing a series of blood samples over the next 24 hours. Results showed that ingestion of watercress led to a rapid rise in plasma levels of ... (PEITC)." Read full article here.

And you thought it was just a pretty garnish! Add generously to your salads, sandwiches and sauces!

~ Greenly yours! ♥

Lycopene is found in cooked tomatoes and is responsible for its anticancer properties and rich red color. Anything made with cooked tomatoes is rich in lycopene.

Unlike other veggies, tomatoes get better with heat!

Cooking allows for better absorption of lycopene in the body.

Fats increase availability of lycopene to the body, so cooking tomatoes with olive oil enhances the amount of lycopene that can be absorbed. Italians have it right!

There may be a link between low incidence of prostate cancer and tomato consumption. Its anticancer effect may be attributed to its action as an antioxidant, or it may act directly on certain enzymes interfering with androgen signals, and disturbing the growth of tumors. Lycopene tends to accumulate in the prostate area so it is recommended for helping protect against prostate cancer.

According to a Study funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in 2005:

"Epidemiological evidence associating the decreased risk of prostate cancer with frequent consumption of tomato products inspired us to conduct a small intervention trial among patients diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma.

Tomato sauce pasta was consumed daily for 3 weeks before their scheduled prostatectomy, and biomarkers of tomato intake, prostate cancer progression and oxidative DNA damage were followed in blood and the available prostate tissue.

The whole food intervention was so well accepted by the subjects that the blood lycopene (the primary carotenoid in tomatoes responsible for their red color) doubled and the prostate lycopene concentration tripled during this short period.

Oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes and prostate tissues was significantly diminished, the latter mainly in the tumor cell nuclei, possibly due to the antioxidant properties of lycopene.

Quite surprising was the decrease in blood prostate-specific antigen, which was explained by the increase in apoptotic death of prostate cells, especially in carcinoma regions.

Prostate cancer cell cultures (LNCaP) were also sensitive to lycopene in growth medium, which caused an increased apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle.

A possible explanation of these promising results may reside in lycopene effects on the genes governing the androgen stimulation of prostate growth, cytokines and on the enzymes producing reactive oxygen species, all of which were recently discovered by nutrigenomic techniques.

Other phytochemicals in tomato may act in synergy with lycopene to potentiate protective effects and to help in the maintenance of prostate health."

Naturally, tomato paste has the highest lycopene content of all tomato-based products. Tomato paste (or sundried tomatoes) can be added to stews, egg dishes, sauces, and soups.

Our family loves a good quality organic tomato paste spread on whole grain toast with a drizzle of olive oil and a light sprinkle of salt!

Click here for an Antioxidant Rich Pasta Recipe.

Buon Apetito! ♥